Improved composition for blasting-powder



NITED STATES W. It. THOMAS AND M. EMANUEL, JR, ()1? UA'DASAUQUA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVED COMPOSlTlON FOR BLASTING POWDER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 31.15%, dated December 9, 1869.

To all whom it may concern:

.ie it known that we, 7. R. THOMAS and MORGAN EMANUEL, J r., both of Catasauqua, in the county of Lehigh and State of lennsyl \dlllit, have invented a new and useful Improvemeut in Blasting Compounds; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, audcxact description oi the same.

This invention relates to the blasting compound for which we obtained Letters Patent No. 34,654, dated March 1], 1862.

The principal object of this improvement is to prevent the separation of the sulpliiir t'roin the bark or any other woody or carbonaceous matter that we may use as a substitute therefor; and to this end it consists in the addition to the com pound of bark or other woody or carbonaceous matter, nitrate of soda, sulphur, and chlorate ot potash of a suitable quantity of starch to prevent such separation.

The proportions of the several ingredients which we commonly employ in the manufacture of the improved compound and the mode of manufacture are asfoliows: Take of nitrate of soda, seven and a halt 7p pounds; flowers of sulphur, two (2) pounds; chlorateot' potash, two (2) pounds; ground bark, nine (9) pounds; starch, two (2)pounds; water, six ((3) quarts Dissuhe iho starch in a small quantity oi the water iu-a coldstate. Heat the rmuaiuder o1 thewatcr to the boilingpoint, andaltor having dissolved therein the nitrate of soda and thc chlorate of potash add and mix in thestarch, and then put the bark into the solutiomwhich should be again brought to the boiling-point and kept boiling until the bark isperfectly saturated. Next pour the whole into a box or trough and add the sulphur, and stir till the sulphur is well mixed, and when this has been efi'ected the compound only requires to -be dried to make it ready for use.

We will state that the proportions of the several ingredients of the compound may be varied to some extent without materially changing the character or eilicicucy oi the compound; buttheproportions wehavc mentioned are those which we find to be best. We will also state that instead of ground bark, saw dust or any other carbonaceous material may be used, in about the same proportions.

\Vhat we claim as ouriuveution, and desire 

